Akaka did not seek re-election in 2012. Four candidates ran in the August 11, 2012 primary.[3]

Biography

Born in Honolulu, he served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. He attended the University of Hawaii, where he received his bachelor's and master's degrees.[1] He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1976 to represent Hawaii's Second Congressional District, and he served for 13 years. In 1990 he was appointed to the U.S. Senate to succeed the deceased Spark Matsunaga. Akaka would later be re-elected to three full terms. In March 2011 he announced that he will not run for re-election in 2012.[4]

Career

Akaka also served as a welder and mechanic while serving as a First-Mate on the Morningstar and in various government positions including Hawaii Office of Economic Opportunity, Office of Governor George Ariyoshi, and Director of Progressive Neighborhood Program.

Analysis

Congressional Staff Salaries

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Akaka paid his congressional staff a total of $1,983,238 in 2011. He ranks 3rd on the list of the lowest paid Democratic Senatorial Staff Salaries and he ranks 15th overall of the lowest paid Senatorial Staff Salaries in 2011. Overall, Hawaii ranks 10th in average salary for senatorial staff. The average U.S. Senate congressional staff was paid $2,529,141.70 in fiscal year 2011.[8]

Net worth

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org - The Center for Responsive Politics, Akaka's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $619,008 and $1,362,000. That averages to $990,504, which is lower than the average net worth of Republican Senators in 2010 of $19,383,524.[9]

Percentage voting with party

Daniel Akaka voted with the Democratic Party 96 of the time, which ranked 13 among the 51 Senate Democratic members as of November 2011.[10]

Recent news

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Personal

Akaka and his wife Millie are the parents of four sons and a daughter who have blessed them with 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. They currently reside in Honolulu, Hawaii. [1]